“The investment of staging in your home is far less than a price reduction on your home” – Barb Schwarz , creator of Home Staging

Leylasroom.com came up with 20 home staging mistakes that every home seller should avoid. Home staging is an integral part of selling real estate and is a part of the process that my team and I really tend to focus on. Some would assume that staging is an easy task, but simple mistakes are made all too often and can potentially undermine the successful sale of a home.

1. Don’t neglect the clutter. It may not seem cluttered to you, but to others it may translate differently. Tour your home from top to bottom with a friend or professional stager who will give you an honest opinion.

2. Don’t do any major renovations. It just isn’t necessary or even feasible to embark on expensive renovations during this time. Some simple changes that can transform a room include a new coat of paint, new faucets or light fixtures or an attractive back-splash in the kitchen.

3. Don’t block light and views. Natural light is extremely important. Be sure not to cover windows with heavy, dark curtains or bulky pieces of furniture.

4. Don’t paint with dark, intense and custom colors. Instead, choose a nice, neutral and warm color. Some popular color tones include beige, grey, light blues or pale greens. These colors can have a surprisingly strong effect on your space!

5. Don’t take it personally. Now that you’re trying to sell your home it is important to think of it more as a product and detach yourself emotionally from it. Just as an item is marketed in a store, you must think of your home in the same context in order to secure a successful sale.

6. Don’t stay during showings. Get out! Being there when your house is being shown creates a very awkward and uncomfortable situation for everyone involved. Potential buyers are less likely to voice their opinions with you around.

7. Don’t leave your pets. Take them for a walk, or a neighbors home. Not everyone loves animals, therefore some may not even want to enter the home. It is also important to remove all pet odors, too.

8. Don’t think the house will sell itself. De-clutter, de-personalize, clean, paint and make small repairs if necessary because some preparation strategies are necessary in order to sell quick and for maximum profit.

9. Don’t over-stage or over-accessorize. It is important to remember that there is a huge difference between decorating and staging to sell. A few, well thought out accessories will do the trick! Candles and pillows are a great start.

10. Don’t buy all new furniture. If your furniture is not as attractive as you would like it to be or is out of date, try borrowing someone else’s furniture. Sometimes removing bulky pieces can help while leaving smaller key pieces and rearranging the room.

11. Don’t add personality. Now is not the time to bring in your unique style into the home. Staging is all about de-personalizing the space. Think luxury hotel or model home style.

12. Don’t neglect the outside places. A neat and tidy front or backyard can really intrigue people and turn a looker into a buyer almost instantly. Adding some furniture, blooming plants and simply mowing the yard can do the trick!

13. Don’t neglect the refrigerator or pantry. Get rid of any old or expired items. Be sure to completely clean and reorganize your fridge and pantry neatly with only fresh foods. A good idea is to add a box of baking soda to the back of the fridge to help absorb odors.

14. Don’t neglect closets and storage spaces. Storage is one of the most important items on buyers’ home-buying wish lists, so start packing. Help to de-clutter any closets and storage space by donating items and packing up the ones you wish to keep. It will also help the areas seem larger if they are less cluttered.

15. Don’t neglect the laundry room. Again with the idea of de-cluttering. The laundry room often becomes a space that accumulates all of the odds and ends within the home that don’t have a specific place. Reorganize so that only things related to laundry are left and neatly displayed.

16. Don’t neglect the garage. Yet another hub for clutter and things to accumulate. Go through and organize placing things neatly against walls, on shelves and elsewhere. The more stuff in the space, the smaller it looks so if at all possible, store as many things out of the home. Ask a friend or look for an inexpensive storage building.

17. Don’t neglect the basement. Basements usually have all excess furniture, books, clothing, appliances, etc. Poorly maintained basements can leave a bad overall impression of the home. Pack and neatly organize all things into a comfortable and attractive lounging area.

18. Don’t keep your photos and knick-knacks out. Buyers are looking for a place to create their own memories. If there are picture out proving your memories it will be hard for them to imagine their own. Try and remove anything that reminds buyers that it’s not their’s.

19. Don’t list your house if you are not ready. Instead of rushing into showing your home, truly invest time and money into preparing your home to be viewed and judged from all angles.

20. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. It can be an overwhelming and daunting task to know exactly what to put where in order to create the perfect home staging experience. Feel free to contact my team and I for tips and tricks to great home staging!

These 20 tips are just a few of the many out there. Overall, be sure to de-clutter, organize and de-personalize your home by taking time and investing money (doesn’t have to be a lot) in order to successfully stage your home for a great sale!